MS Project hints and tips

Create own ribbon tab - Project 2010

a. In Project click on the File tab
b. Select Options from left hand side
c. Choose the Customize Ribbon section
d. Click the New Tab button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box)
e. Select the New Tab (Custom) and enter a name, by clicking the Rename button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box)
f. Select the New Group (Custom) and enter a name, by clicking the Rename button (below the list of tabs on the right hand side of the dialog box)
g. Add commands to your tab and group by locating them on the list on the right hand side (remembering that you can change the list using the drop down box at the top of the list of commands) and clicking the Add button between the two panes to add them to your tab and group
h. You can rearrange the commands in your group, the groups on any tab or the tabs, using the up and down arrow buttons beside the list of tabs.
i. Click OK to apply your changes

Set default task type - Project 2010

a. In Project, click on the File tab
b. Select Options from left hand side
c. Click on Schedule to set the scheduling options
d. Set the Default Task type box to your chosen option
i. Generally if you plan/estimate your projects using durations you should use fixed duration, and untick the box New tasks are effort driven, if you plan/estimate with person hours use fixed work, or for plans estimated with the proportion of resources time use fixed units, and untick the box New tasks are effort driven)
e. Click OK to apply your changes

Use Autofill in MS Project

a. Complete 1st entry
b. Select cell with entry to be copied
c. Click & drag autofill handle over the lines to also contain the same information. (the autofill handle is the little black square in the bottom right hand corner of the heavy lack outline on the selected cell)

Link tasks using predecessor column - project

a. First, note ID number of the task you want to link to (predecessor). Then, in the predecessor column of the task you want to link to (successor), type the predecessor task's ID number.
b. The link will be a Finish to Start (the default type).
c. Or you can add in a code for a different relationship type
i. SS = Start to Start
ii. FF = Finish to Finish
iii. SF = Start to Finish
d. You don't have to type the task ID numbers in any specific order, but you must separate multiple tasks with commas.

Change default view – Project 2010

a. In Project, click on the File tab
b. Select General from left hand side (this should be the screen displayed by default)
c. Set the Default view dropdown box to your chosen option
d. Click OK to apply your changes

Inserting Task Durations Quickly

When entering durations for your tasks simply use the single letters - m for min, h for hr, d for day, w for week, but mon for month. If default is set for days, you need only type the number, for example 3 for 3days, or 0.5 for half a day.

Giving Someone a Gantt Chart Snapshot

To pass on a picture of a Gantt chart segment, choose the appropriate view, select the rows to be included, then click on the camera icon and select For Screen. The graphics image can be pasted into another document. (See Paste icon forn Project 2010)

Compare Work and Duration

Duration is the timescale within which a task is done; Work is the specific time element used. For example, 3 days work in a duration of 2 weeks. To compare, add the Work field into the Entry table by right clicking a column heading to Add Field.

Avoid Accidental Constraints

The initial default table is the Entry table. Enter a task name and duration, but do not enter start or finish dates. Form the plan using links, predecessors. Typing dates introduces constraints. To remove these constraints, double click on a task, and on the Advanced page of Task Information set the constraint back to As Soon As Possible (all other options are there too.)

Typing Links Between Tasks

In the Entry table, use the Precessors column to type in links. Type the previous task's ID to link. To change the link, add FS (Finish-Start), FF (Finish-Finish), and so on, and + duration to add a Lag, or - duration for a Lead time. Example: for task 5, 4FS+1w ... task 4 preceeds task 5, finish to start, with a week lag between.

Formatting Bar Text

To display notes or resource initials on the Gantt chart bars, choose Format, Bar Styles and the Text tab. Select the position you want to show the text i.e. Top or Inside etc, then choose the field name you are looking for from the drop down arrow. Type the first letter of the name to get quickly to the top of the letter range. Click OK.

Project Community

in the help menu type "Tips" then select "Ask the Project community" this takes you into microsofts site where you can ask questions to lots of knowledgeable people.They make up an online group of experienced Project users who answer questions and provide solutions and tips.

Keep constraining dates to a minimum

As far as possible avoid fixing the dates of your tasks. For example try to steer of clear dragging task bars in the Gantt chart to move them on the timeline or entering dates directly into the Start / Finish fields.

Date constraints such as these limit Microsoft Project's ability to automatically adjust your project whenever you add, remove or modify the duration of your tasks. Instead use the logic in your task dependencies that link your tasks to enable Project to calculate the start and finish dates for you.